Train order signal



July 5, 32- A, RITCHEY 1,866,485

' TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL Filed Feb. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 5, 1932.

A. M. RlTCHEY TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL Filed Feb. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 065/ 7. fizlfche Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW M. RITCHEY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TRAIN ORDER SIGNAL Application filed February 16, 1931. Serial No. 516,234.

The invention relates to train order signals, and has for its object to provide, in connection with pivoted signal arms adapted to be placed in stop or clear position for trains going in either direction, cabinets in which train orders are disposed and the cabinets with doors positioned whereby they can not be opened, except when the signalling arms are in the stop position, and at which time the operator may have access to the orders for making out the orders and delivery, to the train crew.

A further object is to provide boards having clips for the reception of train orders, which boards are received within the cabinets on shelves. Also to provide the boards of each cabinet with notches adapted to receive flanges within the cabinets whereby the boards of one cabinet can not become mixed with the boards of the other, thereby providing' positive means for preventing the mixing of north and south order blanks.

.A'further object is to provide hinged strips at the forward edges of the shelves within the cabinet, and which strips, when the order boards are moved from the shelves, hinge outwardly, and assume positions where they hold the cabinet doors in right angle open posi tions in the path of arms carried by the operating mechanism for preventing movement of the signalling arm to clear position until the train order board has been placed in either cabinet.

A further object is to place the door engaging arm in operating mechanism, spaced above the door of the cabinet a sufiicient distance to allow the signalling arm to be oscillated slightly on its stop position for indicating to the crew of an approaching train to slow up for the reception of the usual stop sides of the cabinet in thepath of the doors when the doors are open. Also to provide downwardly extending operating rods pivoted to the levers within reach of the opera tor, and means adjacent the operators position for holding the rods against movement in one direction until released.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a portion of a railroad station or other building showing a portion of the operators desk and the train order signalling device in elevation. 10

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the train order cabinets, showing the door open.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cabinet, showing the door closed, and the doorholding mechanism in operative position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the train order boards.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the cabinets showing the door 0 en.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the cabinets.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another train order board.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 85 designates the operators desk within the sta- 'tion 2, and disposed on the wall 3, preferably :passed on the usual train order hoop.

lever 10, to the outer end of which is connected a downwardly extending rod 11, which terminates in a loop 12, adapted to be grasped by the operator for imparting a downward swinging movement to the lever until the loop 12 is in a position to be received on the hook 13 adjacent the operators desk 1.

Extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper side of the lever 10 is a door limiting arm 14, which when in down position as shown in Figure 3, with the door 7. in closed position, will prevent the door from being opened, and at which time the signalling arm 14 is in clear position vertically, as shown in Figure 1. When the signalling arm is in clear position, the operator can not open the cabinet door for removing the train order board 15 therefrom. When the lever 10 is in raised position as shown to the left of Figure 1, and

also in Figure 2, the signalling arm is in horizontal stop position, and the door hold- .ingarm ltis in a position above the door, and at which time the operator may open the door and remove the train order board 15 therefrom, which normally rests on the shelf 16. As the train order board 16 is removedifrom the cabinet, the operator swings outwardly the pivoted strip 17 which assumes a horizontal position and prevents the door 7 from closing, and at the same time holds the door in the path of the the limiting arm 14., thereby preventing extreme downward swinging of the operating arm 10, consequently prevents the signalling arm from being swung upwardly to clear position until after the train order board has been placed in. the cabinet and member 17 hinged upwardly.

- Lever 10 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 18, to which is connected an upwardly extending rod 19, which may extend to a signalling post or other structure, and is pivoted at 20 to a bell crank lever 21,which bell crank lever is connected by means of a rod 22 to a second bell crank lever 23, having aro'd connection 24 with the pivoted signalling arm l t, thereforeit will be seen that through this rod and leverage connection, the

operator may positively control the swinging movement of the signalling arm-14. It is ob- ,vious'that'this leverage connection will vary according to the type of signalling post or otherstructural details.

By referring to Figures 1 and .2, it will benotedthat the arms 14 which overlie the cabinets in the path of the doors 7 when opened, are spaced above the doors and cabinets asuflic-ientdistance to allow the operator, to oscillate the signalling arms as a sig nal toapproaching train crews to slow down sufiiciently to receive a train order manually Most standard railroads use a form of train order known as the number 19. train order form, which allows the delivery of a train order by need res the operator without stopping the train. In operation, the operator indicates to the train crew the desire todeliver a train order by clearing the blades of train order signal arms twice and returning signal to stop, and leaving the signal in stop position until train has passed andorders delivered. In the present device the train order signal is pulled down from clear position a limited distance with the cabinet door open for the signallin operation; howeverthe signal must be place in stop position before operator can get train order blanks to copy the train order.

The operator, however, can not obtain his blanks until instructed to do so by the train dispatcher, and after instructions from the train dispatcher the signalling arm can not be placed in. clear position until operators table is cleared of orders. There are certain rules which will have to'be imposed on the operator to be observedin connection with the device. Thetrain order. operator must be requiredto keep his train order blanks in cabinets and the cabinets closed. WVhen orders are put out'at his ofiice, he will copy the same on the proper form, taken from the cabinet; when orders are received and copied and made complete he will remove the required copies from'manifold for delivery to trains and hoop these copies. I The operator must leave his ofiice copy on manifold and clip until orders on hoops have been delivered to the proper trains, to whom ad dressed. He will then return to his oiiice, re-

portto train dispatcher such action completed and aslr dispatcher to clear his table ofsuch orders or all orders, as .the case may be. When so cleared he will remove his copy from manifold andclip and return clip boardto the cabinet, close cabinet, and if all orders are cleared from table willthen clear signal .or leave signal at stop.- as the case may be, as. required by the rules. All train orderblanks must be kept on the boards provided for them and in the cabinets, as shown in the drawings. It

will be noted that the clip board 15 has its edge provided with two notches 1.5a which receive the vertical strips 25 when the'clip board is placed in the cabinet; It will be noted by referring to the clipboard 15?) that a single notch 15a is shown, which receives the single strip 150 in the other box, and as said clip boards are proportioned to substantially fill the box with the exception of the hinged strip width 17, said boards can only bereceived in their proper boxes, hence train orders for north and south trafiic will not become mixed.

The invention having been set forth what connected to said lever, a hinged closure carried by the cabinet, an arm carried by the lever and extending inwardly and overlying the cabinet, said last named arm being positioned whereby when the lever is in down position the closure of the cabinet will be prevented from being opened.

2. The combination with a train order cabinet, a signalling arm operating rod, of a lever pivoted to the cabinet, said rod being pivoted to the lever at a point spaced from its pivotal point, means for forcing said lever downwardly in relation to the cabinet, a hinged closure carried by the cabinet and an arm carried by the lever and overlying the cabinet and positioned whereby when the lever is in raised position the cabinet may be opened and when the lever is in lowered position the cabinet closure is held against opening.

3. The combination with a train order cabinet, a signalling device, means for controlling the signalling device, a hinged closure carried by the cabinet, means for holding said closure against opening when the signal is in a certain position, a hinged strip within the cabinet and adapted to hinge outwardly into the path of the closure and hold the same against closing until a train order board has been returned to the cabinet and means whereby only the proper board can be placed within the cabinet.

4. The combination with a movable operating arm for a signalling device, of a train order cabinet adjacent the end of said arm, a lever pivoted adjacent the cabinet, a hinged closure carried by the cabinet, an arm carried by the lever and extending into the path of the hinged closure whereby when the lever is in one position the closure of the cabinet will be prevented from being opened.

5. The combination with a train order cabinet, a signal arm operating member, of a lever pivoted adjacent the cabinet, said signal arm operating member being pivoted to the lever at a point spaced from its pivotal point, means for moving said lever in relation to the cabinet, a movable closure carried by the cabinet and a member carried by the lever and overlying the cabinet and positioned whereby when the lever is in one position, the cabinet closure may be opened and when the lever is in another position the cabinet closure is held against opening.

In testimony his signature.

ANDREW M. RITCHEY.

whereof he hereunto afiixes 

